Never Shower in a Thunderstorm

by Anahad O'Connor

The New York Times’s intrepid health reporter investigates the truth about sex, eating, exercise, and other health conundrums  For more than two years, the New York Times’s science and health columnist Anahad O’Connor has tracked down the facts, fictions, and occasional fuzziness of old wives’ tales, conventional-wisdom cures, and other medical mysteries. Now in this lively and fun book, he opens up his case files to disclose the experts’ answers on everything, from which of your bad habits you can indulge (yo-yo dieting does not mess up your metabolism and sitting too close to the television does not hurt your eyes) to what foods actually pack the punch advertised (you can lay off the beet juice!).
A compendium of answers to the curious and nagging questions of how to keep healthy, Never Shower in a Thunderstorm will provide guidance and amusement to anyone who has ever wondered if the mosquitoes really are attacking her more than everyone else. (Yes, they are.)

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Humor, Health, Reference

237 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2007

Reviews

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Interesting compilation of science articles debunking or validating 'old wives tales' and other common beliefs.

[J.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book that for me confirmed many of the oddball trivia that I have aquired and I learned a few things. A bit of a dry read but it is interesting material.

[Gemini · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is actually pretty funny. Or at least it gives you the various tidbits in a humorous way that is different & makes you chuckle every now & then. It's also super informative to read about the various things that you probably end up discussing or arguing about w/ other people. I mean does it really matter if you have wet hair outside in 35 degrees? I have no issues w/ it. Well, you will have to read this book & learn about all the other things that may or may not be considered old wives tales or things your grandma said which have nothing to back it up. Does eating greasy food make you breakout? Never had an issue there either. It's kind of cool to read about some things you generally don't think about like do you really need to stay off the phone during a thunderstorm or would never come across—a shark in the ocean & what you should do about it. Random stuff that just makes you go hmmmm, is that really so? I would suggest that as fun yet informative as this book is, probably needs to be updated. Have fun w/ it though.

[Stef · Rating 1 out of 5]

At best, this collection of mostly debunked myths is mediocre. I don’t know when this was published, but it already came across as extremely dated. The topics and research are ever changing, which makes something like this better suited as a website. None of the questions are particularly interesting, and the answers to them are buried in paragraphs of text instead of being upfront and easy to find while still encouraging readers to read the explanation/reasoning. Just a bleh bit of mild trivia in poor formatting. This type of thing is better suited for the Bathroom Readers series.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

They say knowledge is power. They say knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance. They say knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice. I say knowledge is fun, and this good book states that case better than most.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and chill book to read about interesting and random facts backed by scientific research. However since this book was published in 2007, a lot of information are probably outdated or that there are new discoveries.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute compendium of columns about those nagging scientific questions you never really get a chance to ask. No hard science or long-winded explanations of research here. An excellent book to throw on your toilet tank for quick perusal while your mind isn't distracted by more pressing matters or for curious guests.

My favorite questions?

Does eating carrots improve your eyesight? (No, the British RAF needed a cover for radar, so they used their top pilot Cunningham's love of carrots as an explanation for his accuracy in shooting down enemy aircraft.)

Can having a glass of wine with your meal prevent food poisoning? (Yes, but not beer. Yet another reason to drink wine!)

Is artificial light hazardous to your health? (Yes, especially if you work nights. You won't live much longer.)

Is it true pregnant women should stay away from cats? (No, EXCEPT don't clean the litter box because cats shed toxoplasma in their feces. Another benefit of pregnancy!)

Do wounds heal better when they're allowed to breathe and scab up? (No, keep them moist, wet, and scab-free. Also, stop wasting money on antibacterial cream. Plain old Vasoline will do just fine. Scabs = scars!)

Can drinking coffee stunt a child's growth? (No, they claim, but my dental records indicate you should keep an eye out for permanent teeth staining, if nothing else.)

Do you risk electrocution if you shower during a thunderstorm? How about talking on the phone? (Yes to both. *shudder* Doesn't happen often, but it DOES happen. Good to know that fear is justified.)

Is the back of an airplane the safest place to sit? (It really doesn't matter because it depends on the crash. Pray hard and you'll survive.)

Do mosquitos really attack some people more than others? (Yes. Some lucky people exude a compound that masks their smell, so mosquitos don't notice them. I smell delicious.)

Do you have to wait forty-five minutes after a meal before swimming? (No, unless you're swimming the Channel or something equally arduous.)

Does walking in the rain keep you drier than running? (Probably not as running lessens your exposure time to the rain.)

Do you lose most of your body heat through your head? (No, it's based on surface area. An uncovered arm will lose more heat.)

Do you need less sleep as you get older? (No, you just happen to get less of it at night because you wake up more often. Thus, you nap more during the day too.)

Is yawning contagious? (Yes! And we're not quite sure why we do it in the first place.)

[Maria (Ri) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review for Armchair Interviews:
“Wait half and hour after eating before swimming.”
“Cover your head in the winter so you don’t catch a cold.”
“Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis.”
We’ve all heard the old wives tales, but which ones are really true? Based on his New York Times column “Really?,” Anahad O’Connor sets out to tell us just that.

In an easy to read question and answer format, Never Shower in a Thunderstorm analyzes dozens of commonly held beliefs about health. Some are verified and some are debunked, though which is which may really surprise you. Fully supported by current research and interviews with field experts, O’Connor takes a neutral middle ground, being neither too liberal and “new age-y” nor conservative and cynical in his assessments. His conversational writing style is clever and engaging, as if talking with a witty friend over a coffee or beer. References to current pop culture keep the tone light and entertaining. Several of his answers actually caused me to laugh out loud and read sections to friends. My only criticism would be to have included a bibliography or footnotes for those interested a bit more in the science behind the answers. So many of the research articles O’Connor refers to sounded interesting enough to have warranted reading them firsthand.

Overall, Never Shower in a Thunderstorm is a thoroughly enjoyable and informative read for all folks, not just those with a scientific bent.

[Camille Danciu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like all of our ‘universal’ questions and myths are answered now! I loved this book. I learned A LOT about silly things I used to whole heartedly believe. Loved the book. Short enough to be fun, lengthy enough to be substantial.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anahad O'Connor is an investigative health columnist for the New York Times. Over time he has kept track of the strange questions that he is asked and put the answers here in this book. He investigates questions about human nature, germs, sex, sleep and other topics.

As many people know, I enjoy books like this that explore the truth of old wives tales and other random facts. This book had a lot of useful information and questions that I had wondered about myself. My favorite topic was probably the questions about sleep. There are a lot of questions and misconceptions about sleep. There have been numerous studies that show that the people who live the longest lives sleep 7 hours a night. If you are averaging 8 hours of sleep a night, your chance of death increases by around 12%. If you are sleeping less than 7 hours of sleep per night, your chance of death also increases, but not as steeply as for the oversleepers.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly about health related topics, but indirectly, like the showering in a thunderstorm bit. Each topic is only a page or two. Doesn't list references often and even contradicts some of his own conclusions. For example, he has a chapter on if the hormones that cows are given are causing puberty to occur earlier. His conclusion is that the amount of hormones is completely insignificant to do anything to a human. A few chapters later is one on acne and how sugar and fatty foods don't lead to acne, but instead implicitly states that the hormones from milk could be doing it. While there is some information that is pretty decent and logical, I know from my own research that he is flat out wrong on a few items, probably because there IS a study showing anything you want it to. Problem is, he probably picked the one study busting a myth but there are 10 other studies confirming it.

[Anand Gopal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Culled from a New York Times column on health matters, this book has everything that is wrong about most modern "scientific" studies that the media trumpets. You know the type, they usually start with: "Studies have linked X with Y, researchers at Z university say." The trouble is, neither the author nor many of these researches in question seem to have grasped the basic idea that correlation does not mean causation. And so we have tons of silly studies that purport to show that some food or vitamin does or doesn't cause some health condition. Take most of what you read in here with a grain of salt.

Still, there are some useful tidbits in here. Did you know that the idea that carrots are good for the eyes comes from British World War II propaganda?

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this book because of the interesting facts it contains and the myths it debunks. I have to admit, with only two chapters left, I was infoed out and had to read something else until my curiosity for facts picked up again. The author answered questions I had always wondered about, like is it better to eat before you exercise? (yes, if you're going to exercise for more than 30-45 minutes; otherwise, it's not necessary.) Does chicken soup really help cure a cold? (Yes! Many studies have "proven" chicken soup helps cure colds faster than not eating it. He even gives the recipe one research group used.) Are the white spots in your fingernails calcium deposits? (No, they're marks from your fingernail being hit.) Does cracking your knuckles give you arthritis?, etc.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this, I decided to get a copy for my mom, who throughout my youth was a wellspring of health fears, from shower electrocutions to Alzheimer’s-causing aluminum foil.

In the age of TV newsmagazines and e-mail forwards, the paranoia has only gotten worse, with deadly toxins and hazards seemingly lurking around every corner. This collection of common beliefs regarding health and safety will put to rest some of your fears (and may stoke the flame of some others).

Of particular interest to me, I noted that numerous health scares were caused by misleading animal test results. The search for better and more relevant information will hopefully direct us toward more non-animal research methods.

[Melissa Guimont · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up as an in-between book that could be read on-the-go. It's a fast read and a fascinating book that tells the truth about some of the common myths, legends, and thoughts regarding health. Questions such as: 1. Do right-handed people live longer then lefties? 2. Does eating carrots improve your eyesight? 3. Do cell phones cause brain cancer? 4. Should you play dead if you are attacked by a bear? 5. Is yawning contagious? And many, many questions that I never even thought to ask. I was amused, bewildered and delighted with the information that I got from this book. I went through it in two days and recommend it to anyone with a curious mind!

[Donald Carr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I laughed at many points, and though the author offered an occasional glimmer of wit. Far too much of the book was bland and uninspired though, and was more of an empirical dissertation on commonly misheld beliefs. I would really not mind this kind of prose, but the author used a lot of words for his lackadaisical prose.

Some interesting tidbits, a pleasant habit of indicating contrasting research, but this person apparently writes columns, and the column style when stretched to a book is stretched thin and rapidly grows tiresome.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is light reading - a collection of pieces from the author's column called "Really?" in the New York Times. These short pieces look at more than 100 common health-related beliefs. Some of the beliefs are old wives tales, some are internet hoaxes, some are bad science but some of these beliefs are true. Mr. O'Connor sifts through the scientific literature and interviews experts in the respective fields to answer questions like "Do tall people live longer than short people?" and "Do hair dyes cause cancer?"

[Elsof · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing is clear and easy to read, but unlike other books of this ilk that go a long way toward citing the many studies and other data for support, this one gives the evidence a cursory nod. Perhaps this would be better for those who want to get right to the yes or no of each debatable question, but for a paranoid conspiracy theorist such as myself, I'd have preferred much more proof in the form of large-scale studies. Breadth of questions addressed is good, but there were plenty of things I already knew and/or didn't care about.

[Henry Yan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anahad O' Connor's "Never Shower in a Thunderstorm" is filled with myths and the hidden truths about them; ranging from topics relating to a person's health (sex, genes, etc.), and topics about the environment (toxic planet, germs, etc). Personally, i find these types of books interesting because it reveals a lot about life and is able to inform people about the truth value of common myths, such as "can drinking coffee stunt a child's growth." Overall, a fun book to read.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, amusing read. The author does a great job at entertainingly summing up the research on a given topic (though, of course, this means that none of the topics are talked about in much depth). Makes you realize both how complex issues like "health" and "sleep" are, and also makes you wonder how people figured anything out before scientific studies were "invented".

[Elizabeth Gosse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this books because I could read a few pages, learn something new, put it down, then pick it up again later without missing anything.

Some of the facts are funny and some are shocking.

You do not get sick because of the cold ... but when your body temperature drops you are more susceptible to the viruses around you.

Happy reading everyone!

[Elizabeth]

Anahad O'Connor writes the "Really?" column for the science section of the New York Times .

[Terri Palermo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly interesting read...actually sorted some of the urban legends for me and made me re-think my bubble baths during a thunderstorm...maybe they're not such a great idea! More enlightening than I thought it was going to be.

[Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved learning the actual research and truth behind all of those old wives' tales and urban legends about our health and such - easy to read chapter by chapter but I kept wanting to know the answers so I read quickly!

[Shana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Next time you’re looking for some health info to impress your friends/family/coworkers/etc., try picking up this book and flipping through. It’s a quick and humorous read that’s sure to teach you a thing or two.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a pretty quick and pretty interesting read. I liked reading little blurbs of info and it allowed me to skip what didn't matter to me and read what I wanted to learn about. One could definitely read all the way through, but I just wanted a quick read this time. :)

[Riley Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Entertaining, but lacking something. A little more detail, or a little more humour, one or the other, would have made it better. I still enjoyed it. And I was educated. So I guess that's an endorsement right there."

[Parker Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

took a long time for me to finish, somewhat of a slug to get through

some answers were interesting, but i had the realization that most of this is likely out of date

a better coffee table book than a true read

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually, much less interesting than I thought it would be.